Glasgow 1770 8yo Aqvavitae Small Batch & Clydeside Fortnight

Glasgow 1770 8yo Aqvavitae Small Batch

Region: Lowlands

ABV: 55.0%

Price: £71.95

Distilled in 2017, this release was drawn from three first fill ex-bourbon barrels selected by Roy of Aqvavitae. The casks were filled on 17 May 2017, married on 1 September 2025, and bottled on 1 October 2025, with an outturn of 550 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with an initial hit of cold buttercream frosting, moving into more orchard fruitiness, lots of green apple and a zesting of lime. We're also finding malt biscuits, a little eucalyptus and some soft peach in the background. There's a reasonable alcohol spice in the background, light ginger and white pepper aromas mostly. The youthfulness of the spirit does show through, however there's enough of bourbon cask sweetness to balance this. 

Palate

The palate opens with lots of upfront citrus, it's very limey, moving into quite a bit of peppery spice, and a bit of minty toothpaste as the finish develops. It reminds us of those candy cigarettes, a little sweet, a little bit menthol. Going back, the citrus is still front and centre, but there's a little desiccated coconut too. It has a decent mouthfeel, a little thinner than we were expecting, but there's a decent finish here with more shortbread biscuits and black pepper spice.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose still begins with the cold buttercream, but we're getting a bit more caramel and toffee aromas coming through in the background. The fresh green apple is still there too. It feels a bit fuller with a drop of water, and the spice has mellowed out a little. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate maintains a minty arrival, but like the reduced nose, feels more balanced with the spice tamed somewhat. Still lots of lime coming through, but also some whipped vanilla cream. 

Conclusion

A pleasant dram, although a little warm in places. It's quite citrus and menthol forward for us, a relatively enjoyable profile, although a tad more cask richness from the bourbon barrels would have elevated it for us. Water really helps the dram to open up, we'd recommend adding few drops. For us it's a 6.5/10. 

Score: 6.5/10

Value

The price is in line with other indie bottlings and the distillery’s single cask releases.

Clydeside Fortnight

Region: Lowlands

ABV: 5460%

Price: £38.00

A new core-range addition and the first peated release from The Clydeside Distillery, named for the two-week window each year when they distil peated spirit. Made from 100% Scottish barley malted with Highland peat and cut with Loch Katrine water, it is matured for over six years in first-fill bourbon barrels.

Nose

The nose opens with quite a new make-forward, fairly yeasty, but with some barley sugars and a little iodine too. The peat is fairly medicinal in nature, with a mixture of antiseptic wipes and rubber gloves. There's a little poached pear in the background but we're struggling to get past the raw spirit character.

Palate

The palate opens with some simple sugar, light fudge, fresh cut grass, melon balls, with the medicinal peat moving more towards and earthy, vegetal style. There's also some fresh lemon juice and tar in the background. It's a bit spicy for only 46%, it's got a fair kick as it develops and leaves a warmth on the finish. The mouthfeel is relatively thin, although there's some texture there.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose get a little bit of a mouldy aroma, but shortly after we're back to the medicinal peat. We're also finding some grapefruit segments starting to appear. It feels a little less.. youthful now, a little more soft fruit aromas appearing too.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate continues with a mixture of vegetal smoke, chlorine, a little saline and barley sugar sweetness. Again, water has helped this and it feels fuller, more integrated, with a bit of crushed mint on the finish now.

Conclusion

We appreciate spirit forward drams but this is just too youthful for us. The integration between cask and spirit doesn't really exist on the nose, and for 6 years old, we'd expect more. The palate is better, more characterful, but has a surprising level of spice for the 46% ABV. We're a little disappointed, we've had much better expressions from this distillery in the past. 

Score: 5.5/10

Value

The price is in line with the distillery’s other core range releases.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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